STREET CROSSINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 14

STREET CROSSINGS

OBSERVANCE OF EXILES APPEAL BY THE MAYOR BREACHES A SERIOUS MENACE All appeal to the public to obscr\o the rules relating to pedestrian crossings. was made by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, at a conference held last night to make preparations for the Road Safety W-ek, beginning on Sunday, December 4. "I have discussed with the superintendent of traffic complaints of pedestrians loitering on the crossings, and have come to the conclusion that members of the public are not assisting the observance of the relevant traffic" rules to the full extent they should," said Sir Ernest. "Many instances have been detected of what rippears to bo deliberate holding up of vehicular traffic. This is very wrong aml cannot be tolerated. Wo have complaints of discourtesy on the part of drivers. In the present case it is the pedestrian who offends. 1 have arranged with the superintendent of traffic to have erected suitable signs dealing with rules to be observed at pedestrian crossings. "Complaints are received also as to pedestrians loitering on tho road and failing to cross tho road at right angles to the kerb. Tlieso breaches aro a serious menace to traffic. I would appeal to the public using Queen Street- and Karangahape Road to discontinue tlieso practices, otherwise we shall ho compelled to take steps to enforce tho regulations, which action I am loth to adopt. As far as the motorist is concerned, tho City Council will not allow undue speed in Queen Street, or anywhere clso in tho city area. Prosecutions, although necessary, aro distasteful to tho department. "What the council wants is collaboration," said tho Mayor, "and I would appeal to all motorists to adhere to, in their entirety, tho well-defined rules which have been framed for the safety of themselves as well as that of the pedestrians."